Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Deputy Leader. I am glad to see that the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill has progressed significantly. I welcome a particular aspect in it, where the Minister said that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, should be given €2.5 million to support services provided by independent radio stations. Local independent radio stations are very important in terms of the work that they do for the community. The BAI also has to issue a report within three months in relation to the challenges faced by these radio stations. The local radio stations do a lot of important work, but particularly in the area of public service broadcasting, news, current affairs and covering local politics. Speaking on my own local radio, Kfm, it is an invaluable service and brings so many issues right into the heart of so many homes. However, it would appear that this public service broadcasting, news and current affairs is possibly precluded from the €2.5 million funding. I want to make a call today that funding should absolutely go to the core of what local independent radio stations do. I would appreciate it if that were brought to the Minister.

I also wish to raise the area of community neurorehabilitation. It is a vital support for people living with neurological conditions, helping to support recovery and, indeed, prevent disability. However, only 15% of people have access to the community teams. A commitment had been made that a team would be delivered for every community healthcare organisation, CHO, area. I understand only two out of the nine have been delivered. My own area, CHO 7, does not have access to such a team. I appreciate that the premises – the location – has been found, and that will be in Peamount. I understand recruitment will happen soon. This is just so important, especially for people living with acquired conditions such as stroke and brain injury. Having these things enables people to come home and be able to recuperate in their own home. I would ask that this be made an absolute priority for CHO 7.

I have also made a call in the House and at the education committee for trainee educational psychologists. I am pleased that, yesterday, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, approved a bursary scheme to support trainee educational psychologists currently in their third year of professional training. By accepting bursary awards, which will be around €30,000 each, a bursary recipient will have to agree to apply for the next National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, recruitment competition and accept a position for at least three years. That is only right and it is important. It is something we need to acknowledge.

I am glad to see a new timetable coming into operation. From this Sunday, there will be 12 new commuter routes from Newbridge into Dublin. It is very important. I am looking forward, of course, to having the short hop zone extended and having that decision made. Having 12 new services is very important also.